WA State increasing chain enforcement / requirement on mountain roads

[Inkedsphynx]

That pass over 90 is pretty dangerous in bad weather. That's right where I totalled my F-250 several years back. I was cruising down the highway doing about 60 in the snow (probably should have been going even slower but that was the speed of the traffic around me). I was in the farthest left lane and everything was fine, until some Microsoft yahoo in a brand new H2 tried to merge onto the highway from an onramp going too fast and making too sharp of a lane change, went sideways and came across all 4 lanes. It happened slow enough I had time to watch the whole thing as it was happening and knew I was about to nail him as soon as I saw it go perpendicular to the highway direction.

I turned to my (now) ex-wife, said "Hold on to something", and just let off the gas. I knew braking was likely to make the situation worse, given there were other vehicles around me, so basically just coasted into a full t-bone at 60mph. Luckily there were no major injuries, though 2 people from the H2 went to the hospital and I had some minor injuries to my arm and wrist (because I stupidly put my right arm out in front of my ex-wife to try to protect her).

Anyway, definitely a dangerous stretch of highway and one that I drive very cautiously now in any inclement weather. Highly suggest the same for others, since it's so prone to accidents.

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[WSea]

That pass over 90 is pretty dangerous in bad weather. That's right where I totalled my F-250 several years back. I was cruising down the highway doing about 60 in the snow (probably should have been going even slower but that was the speed of the traffic around me). I was in the farthest left lane and everything was fine, until some Microsoft yahoo in a brand new H2 tried to merge onto the highway from an onramp going too fast and making too sharp of a lane change, went sideways and came across all 4 lanes. It happened slow enough I had time to watch the whole thing as it was happening and knew I was about to nail him as soon as I saw it go perpendicular to the highway direction.

I turned to my (now) ex-wife, said "Hold on to something", and just let off the gas. I knew braking was likely to make the situation worse, given there were other vehicles around me, so basically just coasted into a full t-bone at 60mph. Luckily there were no major injuries, though 2 people from the H2 went to the hospital and I had some minor injuries to my arm and wrist (because I stupidly put my right arm out in front of my ex-wife to try to protect her).

Anyway, definitely a dangerous stretch of highway and one that I drive very cautiously now in any inclement weather. Highly suggest the same for others, since it's so prone to accidents.

Eastbound I90 east of Ellensburg closed this morning due to 12 semi + 18 vehicle crash. Probably on downhill to Vantage

 

[scottiedoo]

Is anyone getting winter tires for their R1? Lots of mixed reports of how well the AT and AS handle. I'm trying to see what others are doing this winter.

 

[Riviot]

I'm trying to see what others are doing this winter.

Not driving on freeways during poor conditions, and driving slower when it's raining, snowing, or otherwise looks slick.

I don't transport organs, so no need to drive around those big rig drivers with no snow experience at 3am. It can all wait for the weather to clear up.

 

[Mjhirsch78]

20” ATs for me. Bought snowsocks for the tires. We’ll be hitting the mountains likely twice a month at least for snowboarding. I’ll continue planning for days with less heavy weather for our adventures, but have no fear. If our 2009 Honda Odyssey could survive it on AS tires, the truck will be fine. Granted, before moving out of far northern Wisconsin, we spent 20 years driving roads that weren’t plowed to pavement in the winter in that Odyssey and other vehicles without snow tires. So your driving experience might be different.

 

[SeaGeo]

Is anyone getting winter tires for their R1? Lots of mixed reports of how well the AT and AS handle. I'm trying to see what others are doing this winter.

I bought a nokian LT3 winter tires.

 

[SeaGeo]

20” ATs for me. Bought snowsocks for the tires. We’ll be hitting the mountains likely twice a month at least for snowboarding. I’ll continue planning for days with less heavy weather for our adventures, but have no fear. If our 2009 Honda Odyssey could survive it on AS tires, the truck will be fine. Granted, before moving out of far northern Wisconsin, we spent 20 years driving roads that weren’t plowed to pavement in the winter in that Odyssey and other vehicles without snow tires. So your driving experience might be different.

The big caveat is the r1t just has *a lot* more inertia to deal with. So people need to learn to factor that in when thinking about stopping and turning.

 

[Mjhirsch78]

Yup. The ice-covered roads become more challenging. The benefit is that the heavier vehicles actually handle better in snow because they can punch deeper in for more traction. Busses would fly down the road when we lived in Northern WI on the snow-covered roads because of the weight.

 

[scottiedoo]

I bought a nokian LT3 winter tires.

How do you like those tires so far? Did you get to compare them to the AT in the snow?

 

[SeaGeo]

How do you like those tires so far? Did you get to compare them to the AT in the snow?

No complaints so far. My AT time was limited to a brief experience on ice that I did not care for. It wasn't dangerous, just gave me very very little confidence in them steering or slowing the truck on slippery surfaces.

The snow I've had the nokians in hasn't given me any concerns, but it wasn't particularly slippery. At this point I'm trusting nokians to Nokian. My questions were really around range, which I haven't had any issues with.

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